Up to the 2nd December.

Assuming the decision isn't overturned in Parliament on Wednesday.

Well, it's a bit of a desperate measure. In March the figures leading up to it did not suggest it was required* and during it, when analysed, they showed excess deaths due to the lockdown not the virus.
This time I just do not know but have to say I thought the govt would do it.
I'd say try and cope, be as positive as you can, draw on your inner resources, and fight any feelings of unhappiness.
I live alone and do not see anyone even without lockdown so I am already acclimatised. I suppose I am lucky that way. I make my own bread - in a cheap mixer now because I have a lot of pain and can't stand up or knead for long. I still have problems with the house left by a criminal builder and money problems because of him.
But looking back does not help. Take it one day at a time and be resourceful. I would not like to predict beyond the beginning of December.
I am sure the PM is not finding this easy. I think the action is one they feel they must do because they have so little else that they can offer.

*I'll try and add a short list of comparative figures someone sent me, called 'Dismissal of the Lockdown' applied to last March. I did verify against the Official numbers. The National and world figures were always available.

Anyone notice that Andy Burnham has gone very, very quiet?

I think there are some people latching on to schools and universities because its easy to blame them, when all sectors of the population are at fault.

Didn't Boris say they were going to introduce mass, rapid testing with the army to help? This would surely help matters. Schools in Southampton are trialling a saliva test on all pupils and staff (this was developed in Southampton).

The virus is going nowhere - all they can do is try to contain it at manageable levels so that it doesn't overwhelm the NHS, until a vaccine is approved and who knows how long that will take. This will not be the last Lockdown and neither should it be. And if you are under the illusion that the Nightingale hospitals will solve the capacity problems, I wish someone would tell me just where they're going to get the staff for them, given that there are currently 40,000 nursing vacancies in the UK? NHS staff that I know are exhausted, off work with "long Covid", on anti-anxiety and anti-depressants, and generally dreading what's to come. And all those who want to "carry on" will, no doubt, still expect hospital beds for them and their loved ones if the worst happens? This is a slow marathon, not a sprint.

The 'vulnerable' should decide how vulnerable they are. I shall be 75 on Friday so am in that range but will continue to go out and do what I can. All my birthday celebrations have been cancelled. Life is too short to not get the best out of it though.

Until a vaccine is found, Covid will continue to stalk the population. The main reason Boris is doing this lockdown is not to overwhelm the NHS. I really don't think he is concerned about the public other then that.

Sorry haven't read the whole thread so apologies if already said, but Michael Gove is saying there's a real possibility the lockdown will go on beyond 2 December. Similar to the original lockdown, which was only meant to be 3 weeks but kept being extended. I think we can wave goodbye this year to Christmas as we know it.

The only thing that will ever work is people being sensible. We all saw film of crowds of people ignoring social distancing etc. They are the ones to blame. People are ignoring the track and trace. They are not isolating themselves when contacted. We are the only ones who can stop this virus spreading by obeying the rules. Do as ya damn well told.

growstuff

BlueBelle

I totally agree with the second set of scientists lock down the vulnerable and carry on carrying on

Between 20 and 30 million people in the UK are considered to be clinically at high risk. Shielding them all would involve locking up between a third and almost half of the population.

The Government and health officials have urged the 1.5 million people in England considered most at risk from coronavirus because of their health conditions to begin “shielding” themselves.
People like you are part of the problem. Stop exaggerating.
Isolate the vulnerable and carry on!
Ps I am one of them but do not want everyone suffering for m6 problem

I keep saying that I like living alone, and it's true, but you can have too much of a good thing and I'm fed up now! But I can 'bubble' with one of my sons, so that's my lifeline.
However, I think this lockdown is for the best and should have been done sooner, even though levels here in Devon are low, - but rising now.
I'm glad to see a bit of support for Boris here. I wouldn't have his job for all the money in the world. To have to make all these life changing decisions must be so difficult. Any leader would have had huge problems with it.

The government is getting so much flack but, really, they have a terrible job. There is conflicting 'advice' coming from all sides, the economy is in freefall and the coronavirus is still rampant. Who'd be Boris? On the plus side, my dh tells me, at least there are no bombs falling on us.

Research is showing that 1% of Primary pupils and 2% of Comp pupils are carriers, that is they appear fit and well but are spreading the virus. They can be carriers for months. Many young females between 20 and 30 years old are in hospital with severe covid, many of them teachers.

Some local authorities are running out of supply teachers and morale is very low with the huge stress. The virus does not make children very ill but treachers are getting heavy doses of it from each carrier pupil.

I know several parents are keeping their children from school to continue home schooling after hearing this research. They need to protect their families. Teachers are highly qualified and many will not be returning to the classroom if they have long covid.

The most important factor is an efficient locally based test track and trace., but in order for it to be effective there needs to be proper financial support for those asked to isolate.

Carolpaint. you said:

We have a high death rate because of the NHS being too successful, people are living that should not be

I find that a very distressing judgement which you have made.
You speak as though you may either work in the NHS or have close knowledge of it, by the way you speak of the fitter people doing extra shifts, you say,
because of wimps that have decided their previous illness precludes them coming in duty
Again, another condemning judgement. If NHS workers on duty are this resentful about their colleagues who have been ill, it must be dreadful being in hospital treated by them.

Carolpaint, your attitude fills me with horror. We do not need your personal views in the form of this kind of negative attack on people at this time, calling NHS people who cannot work "the wimps" and saying that the high death rate is due to the NHS keeping people alive "that should not be".

I feel sure the views you express are entirely and only yours and nobody else thinks that way, neither within the NHS nor outside.

Mooney59

growstuff

BlueBelle

I totally agree with the second set of scientists lock down the vulnerable and carry on carrying on

Between 20 and 30 million people in the UK are considered to be clinically at high risk. Shielding them all would involve locking up between a third and almost half of the population.

The Government and health officials have urged the 1.5 million people in England considered most at risk from coronavirus because of their health conditions to begin “shielding” themselves.
People like you are part of the problem. Stop exaggerating.
Isolate the vulnerable and carry on!
Ps I am one of them but do not want everyone suffering for m6 problem

Oh well! Thank you very much! I happen to be somebody who is at high risk, but not very high risk, so was never shielded. Having said that, I live on my own and have left the house about six times since March, so am hardly contributing to a "problem", despite finding it difficult at times. Those who have been ignoring the guidelines/rules/laws and transmitting the virus are the problem.

It is a fact (whether you like it or not) that there are about 20 to 30 million people in the UK who are over 60 or have a medical condition and/or ethnic background which puts them at high risk. Where would you have the "lockdown" threshold?

Track and trace is working very well. Husband and I both tested positive on Monday, track and trace straight on to us, texts and phone calls nearly every day

BlueBell
I too live in a very low risk county but wholeheartedly accept the lockdown. It should have been done a month ago. I do agree with schools staying open.

I can't disagree with you more about picking and choosing who locks down .

We didn't do a total lockdown till July! It started to ease on 10th May. Then it was slowly released. It would be foolhardy to stop the lockdown completely after this 28 day lockdown.

There are reports of a wave starting in July (holidays in Spain) that was due to no isolation there and here.

I've read the summary report from our local MP on what's to stop. Overseas travel is one. He also included no one to stop in their holiday / second homes.

Lock down the vulnerable? Most are still in a lockdown situation since the last one. Think of the mental health issues associated with that. This group of people need to feel the country is working together on this. That means we all lock down and work together in supporting each other.

Carry on carrying on. No. Think of others who will suffer as the cases get higher and the hospitals fill up. There are no guarantees in life regarding COVID.

Let's face it, the virus is passed through human contact and it doesn't care where that contact is, workplace, public transport, private home, pub, hospital etc. We must also accept that we may never find a vaccine, or at least a very effective one. The virus will stay with us, although one might hope that it mutates and weakens as time goes on.
We can't stay realistically in an endless cycle of lockdowns.
The vulnerable can be given advice but surely it is ultimately a personal decision as to how much risk to take.

Yesterday there was a report in the newspaper that three leading research universities had each published their own papers and none of them agreed on anything. There are now doubts that the virus is airborne and one leading scientist believes that it is on phones, door handles, keyboards and on face masks that are worn for long periods and get damp. It all seems to be guess work. What I do believe is that we were safer keeping apart, washing our hands and not wearing masks. I feel really sorry for the hospitality and retail workers who will face 2021 unemployed and without the chance of getting a job.

Tillybelle Those statistics aren't relevant to the UK, where there are relatively few deaths from infectious diseases. They are an issue in less developed countries, but not in most developed countries.

henetha
I just had to say I agree and identify with every word you wrote! Oh! perhaps except that I have a daughter, not a son!

Good luck! To everybody! Good luck, good health, Happiness and God bless you all!

Americanpie

Yesterday there was a report in the newspaper that three leading research universities had each published their own papers and none of them agreed on anything. There are now doubts that the virus is airborne and one leading scientist believes that it is on phones, door handles, keyboards and on face masks that are worn for long periods and get damp. It all seems to be guess work. What I do believe is that we were safer keeping apart, washing our hands and not wearing masks. I feel really sorry for the hospitality and retail workers who will face 2021 unemployed and without the chance of getting a job.

No, it's not guesswork. Where did you read that?

growstuff. Fair point. Thanks.

Nannapat1

Let's face it, the virus is passed through human contact and it doesn't care where that contact is, workplace, public transport, private home, pub, hospital etc. We must also accept that we may never find a vaccine, or at least a very effective one. The virus will stay with us, although one might hope that it mutates and weakens as time goes on.
We can't stay realistically in an endless cycle of lockdowns.
The vulnerable can be given advice but surely it is ultimately a personal decision as to how much risk to take.

It depends where people work. Some people have no choice except to work in environments where close contact is unavoidable.